No credible link exists between alcohol-containing mouth rinses and oral cancer

Key reviews examining the potential links between alcohol-containing mouth rinses and oral cancer have reported no association.^1–7

Citation	Study type	Findings
Gandini et al. 20121	Quantitative analysis of 18 published epidemiological studies of mouth rinse use and oral malignancy	No statistically significant association between mouth rinse use and risk of oral cancer, including no significant trend in risk with increasing daily use No association between use of mouth rinses containing alcohol and oral cancer risk
La Vecchia et al. 20092	Critical review of published data	Link between use of alcohol-containing mouth rinse andoral cancers not supported by epidemiological evidence
Coleet et al. 20033	Critical review of published data	The weight of the evidence strongly suggests that the use of alcohol-containing mouth rinse does not increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer
Warnakulasuriya. 20094	Review article	No excess risk for oral cancer from alcoholic mouth rinse use
Lemos-Junior. 20085	Review article	Correlation is weak, inconsistent and contradictory
Lewis & Murray. 20066	Review article	Alcohol in mouth rinses is not associated with oral cancer or an adverse effect on oral mucosa
US FDA. 20037	Review	Available data do not support a relationship between use of alcohol-containing mouth rinses and oral cancer

 

Additionally, the German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment concluded: ...no carcinogenic or pre-neoplastic effect by mouth rinses should be expected at intended use resulting from short contact of ethanol to the mucosa.⁸

 

References

1. Gandini S et al. Mouthwash and oral cancer risk – quantitative meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies. Ann Agric Environ Med 2012; 19(2): 173–180.
2. La Vecchia C et al. Mouthwash and oral cancer risk: an update. Oral Oncol 2009; 45: 198–200.
3. Cole P et al. Alcohol-containing mouthwash and oropharyngeal cancer: a review of the epidemiology. JADA 2003; 134(8): 1079–1087.
4. Warnakulasuriya S. Causes of oral cancer - an appraisal of controversies. Br Dent J 2009; 207: 471–475.
5. Lemos-Junior CA, Villoria GEM. Reviewed evidence about the safety of the daily use of alcohol-based mouth rinses. Braz Oral Res 2008; 22(S1): 24–31.
6. Lewis MAO, Murray S. Safety of alcohol-containing mouthwashes. Dental Health 2006; 45: 5–8.
7. The Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration 2003.
8. BfR Committee for Cosmetics: Protocol Meeting 5th May 2009 (BfR-Kommission für kosmetische Mittel Protokoll des BfR vom 5. Mai 2009).